DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sajb.2025.v13i09.008

Pages: 1381-1393

Cortisol, a key hormone in the stress response, is frequently disrupted in psychiatric disorders. However, few studies have examined the impact of traumatic life experiences on cortisol levels in the African context. This research aimed to assess the influence of traumatic life experiences on blood cortisol levels among patients followed at the Psychiatric Hospital of Bingerville (Côte d’Ivoire). This cross-sectional and analytical study involved 170 patients, of whom 42 were selected for hormonal assays. Traumatic experiences were assessed using the Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ), the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Specific (PCLS), and the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV (CAPS-IV). Cortisol measurement was performed by automated immunoassay using the VIDAS® system. The results revealed significantly higher cortisol levels in patients who had experienced trauma compared to those without such history. This phenomenon was particularly marked among men. Conversely, among trauma-exposed patients, those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) showed significantly lower cortisol levels than those without PTSD. These findings suggest that traumatic life experiences alter the functioning of the HPA axis in psychiatric patients, leading to initial hypercortisolemia followed by hypocortisolemia in cases of PTSD. Identifying these biological profiles could help improve understanding and clinical management of patients in Sub-Saharan Africa.